Strikes threaten PM Rishi Sunak's hope for calm government, writes political editor ChrisMasonBBC
I am told they have been preparing for this wave of strikes since day one in office, back in late October.And little wonder, the advent calendar of strikes is unremitting: from health workers in Northern Ireland on Monday, to strikes involving nurses, posties, baggage handlers, bus drivers, road workers, driving test examiners and rail workers between now and the weekend.
The government's emergency response committee, known as COBR, is meeting today and will do again on Wednesday.Over the weekend, the Department of Health put in what is known as a MACA request in the Whitehall jargon - Military Assistance for the Civil Authorities.They will have a five day training course, but I'm told this won't involve practicing driving with the blue lights flashing on the open road.
Where significant chunks of both the services we rely on daily, and those we hope are always there if we need them, are not - or at least not as they usually are.Where this leaves the government, the trades unions and public opinion could yet shape how long these disputes rumble on for.
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